Moving to Dublin and confused about best areas

irisheejit

Hi guys,

Jumping head first in with a question for my first post but don't worry, plan to stick around.

I'm moving to Dublin in a month and I've never lived there before.

I'm looking for a decent area which is commutable to the city centre with transport available by Luas, and late night buses (if I'm out at night)

What places are really nice with some local shops in the earlier, but still commutable to city centre.

And what areas are really stay the heck away from?

Diarmuid

Dundrum would tick those boxes

riclad

RANELAGH, rathmines, closer to city centre, loads,a flats in rathmines.
IN my experience buses are just as fast as the luas ,rathmines not on luas route , but any working person should be able to get a flat there.
Theres not so many flats in dundrum.
those areas usually,have shops within walking distance ,or take a bus to the local supermarket.
theres more flats in rathmines than dundrum.

irisheejit

What about somewhere a little further out like Stillorgan?

There seems to be some really nice apartments there and be commutable with about 20 minutes on the Luas. Interested in quite a nice apartment, as long as it's commutable to city centre.

Cuddlesworth

Depends on the location. You could end up with just the Luas and nothing else. Whats your budget?

Also the Green line Luas can be a nightmare to get on in the morning, past the Sandyford stop. The rare times I got it, I shuddered at the idea of having to physically shove my way onto the carriage. Most of the public transport close to the city centre can be like that.

irisheejit

My maximum monthly budget is 1000 euro for a place. I'm living in London at the moment so I'm well adjusted to public transport being packed with the underground here.

riclad

Stillorgan is ok, Rathmines, has a shopping centre, cinema, library , i lived in harolds cross , 7 years ,its very quiet , with loadsa local shops.
see daft.ie , or rent .ie for prices in different areas.
STillorgan, DUNDRUM, it would take maybe twice as long on a bus to get to city centre, bus stops at most bus stops ,
all those areas are nice , i just think closer is better ,if you can afford anywhere.look on a map, stillorgan and dundrum are way further out,than rathmines, harold,s cross, it might be easier to find apartment for rent in rathmines.
as ABOVE all buses ,luas full in the mornings,
so i would not like to get getting a bus ,luas from dundrum mon-friday.Every week.
bus from rathmines ,maybe 15 mins from town,
i hear luas is very crowded at rush hour .
You could even cycle from rathmines into town, in summer, autumn.

irisheejit

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.

Major problem with Rathmines is that there are very few apartments there going by Daft.ie. Looking for quite a nice place in a quiet/safe area. Is there anywhere else worth considering?

Diarmuid

If the Luas is a must, then you can go through the green line stops as far as stillorgan. Add in the requirement for local shops and you are down to ranelagh/Beecheood , dundrum/Balally and stillorgan. Better quality apartments in dundrum than ranelagh IMHO but it's substantially further out. Not to familiar with stillorgan apartments

irisheejit

I'd consider something around Sandyford but I think I might be going too far out. Not too sure if the green luas ine would be any better than the red one.

Diarmuid

irisheejit wrote: »

I'd consider something around Sandyford but I think I might be going too far out. Not too sure if the green luas ine would be any better than the red one.

Red Luas doesn't have the best reputation with regard to feeling safe...

riclad

you CAN Get studio,flats as big as an apartment ,similar rental price in city centre, or other area,s
or could you not rent apartment along the quays, bachelors walk,,or near temple bar
just stay away from wood quay area .
OR DO YOU think the city centre is too dangerous.
i think sandyford ,dundrum is too far out.

cson

Is your budget really €1000 a month? For yourself?

You'd get a 1 bed palace in most places for that.

irisheejit

Yeah just for myself.

It's the very maximum I'm willing to go to. After spending hours browsing Daft.ie , because of my lack of proper Dublin knowledge, still trying to work out which places would be worth investigating.

mari2222

The AIRO crime mapping website will show you levels of crime per garda area - might help you narrow down to one or two areas.......:)

The_Conductor

Dundrum seems to tick the boxes from the little information you've provided. If you try for Rathmines etc- you're going to be going up against the student populace from Trinity/UCD etc- its a typical student area. I'd have no hesitation recommending Dundrum- it seems to tick your boxes. Personally- I'm a bit older than you are- and would better appreciate somewhere quieter- you have commuter lines going to Maynooth etc- which is a student town with good night life too- and with a EUR1000 budget- you'd blow most other potential renters out of the water.

borderlinemeath

With a €1000 budget in Ranelagh you would get a nice 1 bed, there's a lot fewer than in Rathmines though.

Something like this but you would have to imagine it without the current tenants clutter:
http://www.daft.ie/searchrental.daft?id=1250605

This one is between Ranelagh & Rathmines but close to everything and very close to the luas stop.
http://www.daft.ie/searchrental.daft?id=1261430

Another one between Ranelagh & Rathmines, no pics with this but if you google images the address you see the exterior of the apartment and location. (Why advertisers don't put pics in is beyond me though)
http://www.daft.ie/searchrental.daft?id=1253333


Another area that you might consider is Sandymount. It's on the Dart train line and has a lovely little village, there's a nice strand if you want to go walking/running and is close to the city centre.
This apartment is just under €1000 and it has 2 bedrooms so you could have family or friends stay if needs be.
http://www.daft.ie/searchrental.daft?id=1253333

Rasmus

Where will your office be? This could help you in deciding which transport hub you will be frequenting. Also, do you want to commute? Have you considered city-centre renting otherwise?
I'd second Sandymount or Dublin 6 areas, as they are easy walks to town.

Number_5

Sandymount is a very nice area - close to town. Also, clontarf is a good option on the north side of the Liffey. I am originally from castleknock, which is nice in spots, but not as close to town as sandymount or clontarf.

irisheejit

Cheers for the great advice.

I'm going to be working close to the Radisson hotel in Dublin and around that area. I'd be prepared to live outside the city centre as long as the transport available was regular and dependable.

Number_5

irisheejit wrote: »

Cheers for the great advice.

I'm going to be working close to the Radisson hotel in Dublin and around that area. I'd be prepared to live outside the city centre as long as the transport available was regular and dependable.

Maybe offer 1k for this one and see what happens. Signing a two or three yr lease might sweeten the deal. Cycling from here into the radisson would be a nice way to commute.

irisheejit

Number_5 wrote: »

Maybe offer 1k for this one

What one?

Rasmus

Do you mean the Radisson in Dublin 2, off George's st? Then Rathmines, Christchurch, Killmainham, Smithfield, Portabello or anywhere along the quays would suit you well.

irisheejit

Sorry I should have been more clear, I mean working here

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Radisson+Blu+Royal+Hotel+Dublin,+Golden+Lane,+Dublin,+Ireland&aq=1&oq=radisson+hotel+dublin&sll=51.528642,-0.101599&sspn=0.463914,1.352692&vpsrc=0&ie=UTF8&hq=Radisson+Blu+Royal+Hotel+Dublin,+Golden+Lane,+Dublin,+Ireland&ll=53.344838,-6.268258&spn=0.013912,0.042272&t=m&z=15&iwloc=A&cid=3694674998765026594

Rasmus

irisheejit wrote: »

Sorry I should have been more clear, I mean working here

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Radisson+Blu+Royal+Hotel+Dublin,+Golden+Lane,+Dublin,+Ireland&aq=1&oq=radisson+hotel+dublin&sll=51.528642,-0.101599&sspn=0.463914,1.352692&vpsrc=0&ie=UTF8&hq=Radisson+Blu+Royal+Hotel+Dublin,+Golden+Lane,+Dublin,+Ireland&ll=53.344838,-6.268258&spn=0.013912,0.042272&t=m&z=15&iwloc=A&cid=3694674998765026594

Yes that is the one off Aungier St/Georges St.

Number_5

irisheejit wrote: »

What one?

Sorry here ye go:

http://www.daft.ie/searchrental.daft?id=1238767

Rasmus

Number_5 wrote: »

Sorry here ye go:

http://www.daft.ie/searchrental.daft?id=1238767

Nice place. Aren't they chancing their arm asking for 1350!! Agree to suggestion on offering less.

irisheejit

More interested in an apartment anyway, and 1000E is my upper limit.

Smithfield looks good. Nice enough area?

Would only be about 20 minute walk to work.

Rasmus

Smithfield is a great area for restaurants, bars and general stuff happening. Lots of nice apartments down there.

irisheejit

In terms of safety, still pretty good too?

If so, narrowed down my search then. Think it would be best choice for me?

Rasmus

I wouldn't consider it unsafe, but it is not the likes of Sandymount. The quays are always crime hotspots but so are many Dublin spots. You have been living in London so won't be any surprise to you. For a city-centre location is quite 'neighborhoody'.

irisheejit

Cheers mate for the advice. I'll check out a few places when I get back to Ireland, and hang around at night to see what it's like too. Hopefully isn't too noisy either.

Sandymount looks like a nice area but hasn't accommodation which interests me.

Number_5

Ye 1350 is steep for that 2 bed in sandymount but you might get it for your limit. Smithfield has one of the best pubs in Dublin - the cobblestone. However, some of the areas close to it are not the best from a safety perspective, particularly if you are walking home late at night. I personally would not live there. Don't get me wrong -there are a lot of good people living in the area but the walk along the north side of the quays can be ropy in the early hours.

irisheejit

To be honest, no matter where I lived in the city centre, I'd never be walking home alone late at night. It would always be a taxi

Number_5

Ok. But to put bluntly, there is a fair amount of drug dealing on patches of the stretch of road from Smithfield up to O Connell street. Passing in a taxi or on foot, it is not very pleasant. Different strokes for different folks obviously but just so you are warned......

irisheejit

Hmmmm I'm still a bit confused about a good place to be then

ankles

Southside gives you a slew of public transport options from Harolds Cross around Rathmines. Green Luas would leave you a 5 minute walk. Haggle hard on €1k a month and the world is your oyster. Not being snobby but Soutside is generally safer closer to the city, and will give you way more commuter options

Rasmus

irisheejit wrote: »

Hmmmm I'm still a bit confused about a good place to be then

It is true about certain patches at night-time. Depends if you think this is a deal-breaker. Anywhere along the quays is a dodgy walk late at night.

irisheejit

Yeah for me it's a deal breaker. I want to feel relatively safe in the area I'm in.

Places people keep mentioning like Rathmines and Sandymount don't have the type of accommodation I'm after. I want a pretty decent apartment. I don't mind a commute as long as it doesn't take over 30 minutes to get into city centre.

Rasmus

irisheejit wrote: »

Yeah for me it's a deal breaker. I want to feel relatively safe in the area I'm in.

Places people keep mentioning like Rathmines and Sandymount don't have the type of accommodation I'm after. I want a pretty decent apartment. I don't mind a commute as long as it doesn't take over 30 minutes to get into city centre.

Then yes, Rathmines, Ranelagh, Rathgar, Haddington Road area is probably your best bet. There are also apartments in Ballsbridge that might suit you. You could do a daft search for Dublin 2, 4, and 6 apartments with your specs and see what comes up.

msnd

I think if I was working in that area I would get an apartment in Castleknock. Cycle through the park into work and there are tons of new apartments in the area. Phoenix Park Racecourse, Ashton etc.

riclad

look at stoneybatter , ten mins on a bus into town,
i know its not as posh as ballsbridge, stillorgan.Smithfield looks nice to me, but anywhere in city centre you need to be careful walking round after dark.And its dark at 6pm in the winter.
There are rough areas on the south side as well.
i think sandymount is too far out.
Make sure apartment block,has door camera, door coded lock,gate ,its secure.
IF walking Anywhere in city centre you need to be careful,
i know someone , their iphone was robbed on o, connell st ,, while they were talking on the phone, male age 23.
From phoenix park racecourse , bus is 20 mins approx, journey from city centre.
Ballsbridge is a quiet area ,with plentyof shops.

irisheejit

Had a look on Daft for places in Stoneybatter and Ballsbridge, doesn't appear to have much there.

Would I be absolutely mad to consider Stillorgan?

Number_5

riclad wrote: »

i think sandymount is too far out.

Are you thinking of sandyford? Sandymount is v close to town.

Probably sounds like I am biased towards the south side from my posts but I'm actually from castleknock, and i will move back there when i move back to ireland with my family. Since you are going to be based in the radisson I would avoid an area like castleknock. Even if you are in the Phoenix park racecourse apartments you will have 10 minute walk to train and 15 minute walk from Pearce across to the radisson. Add on the 25 minute train and you have a 50 minute commute. From your posts my interpretation is that this would be too much - hence avoid the north side of the Liffey.

If you can find an apartment you like in ballsbridge, ranelagh, rathmines, sandymount, you are golden. If not then look at developments very close to the luas green line stops. As I think you know the final stop on harcourt street in town is v close to the radisson so a much better fit for you than the northside commuter line stopping at Pearse St.

ankles

What do you want when you're not at work. Good nightlife? Good facilities? Safe quiet spot? You could stay round the back of Ranelagh/Milltown area if you want somewhere quieter

irisheejit

Yeah I'm looking for a safe and quiet area. From what people said earlier in the thread, green line is very busy though.

As long as the area is safe and quiet, with some shops within walking distance, and with some really nice apartments then I'll be happy.

Many of the areas mentioned do not have very nice accommodation.

Rasmus

http://www.daft.ie/searchrental.daft?id=1257466

Is this kind of thing unsuitable? Are you looking for something quite luxurious?

irisheejit

More luxurious to be honest

Rasmus

fair enough - for a fancyish (probably newer) apartment complex, you will have to go further out to pay 1,000 or less. There are many new developments along the luas line (Dundrum direction). That would be a good place to start.

theteal

http://www.daft.ie/searchrental.daft?id=1255623

I walked by this complex on my way to a match in Richmond Park when I was back in Dublin a few weeks ago. This place used to be a small industrial estate and I'm actually shocked at the job they did to redevelop it, it looks seriously great.

It's a quiet area with excellent transport links, the luas stop on the Naas Road is a stones throw away, even better, the Drimnagh Road is on the other side of the complex and is serviced by no less than 6 buses (27, 77a, 50, 56a, 123, 151) that will have you in in the city in 20-30mins on average - all except the 123 stop on Patrick Street, leaving you a ~5min walk to the Radisson. After a night out, the nightlink runs up the Drimnagh Road or a taxi will cost about €10-13 from Dame Street.

There are plenty of pubs (possibly too many) near by, aldi and superquinn are slightly further away. There are also a couple of soccer and GAA clubs based within easy reach - oh yeah and that's a large pitch and putt course you can see out the windows of the apartment.

Just an idea.

irisheejit

Amazing response, thanks very much!

That really looks like a great place to be, and not too far away from the city centre. I'll look into it. Won't be back in Ireland for two weeks so hopefully there are some apartments available around that area then.